Tim Hole is an internationally affiliated Coach (ICF) and Facilitator (IAF).
Tim specialises in supporting individuals who work in fast-paced and fluid environments.
Tim also prides himself on optimising human performance.
Tim spent over twenty years in the music industry. He worked with artists and creative talent. Not to mention being an oblique star, in his own right.
Tim has since expanded to coach in a plethora of other industries, including;
-advertising
-media
-tech
In 2016, Tim created BREATHE Labs. It was born from a connected vision of a future workplace. One which truly represents and utilises diversity.
But diversity doesn't only mean people. For tim this included Artificial Intelligence and globally located teams too. All able to fluidly collaborate.
BREATHE allows companies to install inclusivity immediately. This extends the full potential of all individuals in an organisation.
Tim's work in gender empowerment and diversity has also led him to become an FRSA.
(A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce.)
In 2017, Tim founded Token Dad. He recognised that many professional leaders were Dads. Tim then set out to make them more empathic and inclusive leaders.
What followed were events built on conscious and intelligent play with their kids. As well as discussions groups about the future of the workplace and challenges all parents are facing.
Some of Tim's specialisms include;
• Coaching: Individuals
• Coaching: Teams
• Coaching: Executives
• Training: BREATHE Facilitation Training
• Training/Workshop: The Future Workplace (Inspiration presentation and exercises)
• Workshop: BREATHE Immersion
• Workshop: Unconscious Bias - the business and the personal
• Workshop: Identity
• Workshop: Active Listening
• Workshop: Effective Questioning
• Workshop: Productivity
• Workshop: Team Harmony
Consultation: Organisational Ethnographic Mapping
Sadly, my conversation with Tim was cut a little short. But he was good to enough to answer the rest of my questions in written format.
What is the daily professional challenge that has the biggest ROI for you when overcome?
Making contact with new people I haven't met causes me genuine physical pain, but is absolutely necessary. I try to attend events and workshops etc to minimise the amount of 'cold' communications I have to endure sending out into the 'hi, how are you' world…
What do you wish you knew in your first year of coaching?
I wish I'd known that to be a good coach, you really need to populate your life with your clients obstacles as a fundamental focus and drive. My clients were dealing with sexism in the workplace and were struggling to be heard and make impact, which is why I have found myself innovating in these areas - but that wasn't intended at the start.
What is bad advice you hear being given, to people trying to get into your field? What advice should people ignore?
I've spoken to lots of people who 'fancy' becoming a coach. They're conceived of it as this tidy little career where you get to be an expert without needing an organisation of people around you. The reality is that you have to open yourself to a very big world of emotion and challenge and your skill as a coach must be evolved into a martial art. It takes time, reflection and dedication to the form. Coaching is not about you - it's about everyone else. A good coach should be primarily seeking reward by hearing about their clients successes in a benevolent way.
What is the book (or books) you've given most as a gift, and why?
The Culture Map by Erin Meyer is a frankly wonderful insight into the different ways cultures do business - and the misunderstandings that happen as a consequence. It's insightful, funny and allows the reader the opportunity to assess their own identity - so it's useful too. It's only a couple of years old, but I rate it as a 'must' read for any aspiring executive who will undoubtedly need to work effectively across cultures and nationalities.
What was the last thing you saw, heard or experienced that made you think or say "jesus… that's clever"?
My best buddy lives in Brussels and his kids attend a 'Decroly' school. Ovide Decroly created a methodology for teaching that focuses on the conditions of each individual student to develop a passion for learning on their own terms. I visited the schools summer fete last month and was astounded by the complexity of the education on offer and the community that surrounded the school through parents and teachers protecting 'the purpose'. I'm on the PTA of my own kids school in the UK which is very successful - but the Decroly school glowed with brilliance, love and compassion.
What's your one paragraph idea for saving the world?
Indexing every item manufactured in the world for its purpose and denying a license to produce to anything deemed to have more environmental damage than emotional/educational/health impact on the user. This should include food and drink too.
Tim Hole is an internationally affiliated Coach (ICF) and Facilitator (IAF).
